Unit for translating and printing of data supplied in a form of combinations of binary signals

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a unit for translating and printing data supplied as combinations of binary signals delivered respectively on different lines of a group of conductors. The signals are split up on each line into trains of pulses whose durations double from one line to another in geometric progression. Printing means are provided with a plurality of printing characters. Collector means (having the group of conductors coupled thereto) combine the pulses into a joined configuration. Clutching means are connected to an output line of a collector means for clutching the printing means to a rotatable drive shaft so as to position the printing characters in juxtaposed relation with an article to be printed.

0 United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,741,112

Cayla June 26,-1973 [54] UNIT FOR TRANSLATING AND PRINTING 3,120,801 2/1964 Davies et a1. 101/93 C OF DATA SUPPLIED IN A FORM OF 3,176,610 4/1965 Benson..... 101/93 C 3,277,817 10/1966 Yeiser 101/93 C COMBINATIONS 0F BlNARY SIGNALS 3,280,256 10/1966 Clark et a1 178/79 [75] Inventor: Yves Cayla, Pontchartrain, France 3,304,366 2/1967 Clark et l- 1 8/23 R 3,385,213 5/1968 Stephan 101/110 1 Asslgnw some dEwdes ewe Documentation 3,419,678 12/1968 Afial 178/23 R Electronique, (SEDELEC), Hauts de 3,465,866 9 1969 Gehring 6161. 235 619 Seine, France 22 Filed; May 11 7.; Primary ExaminerWi1liarn B. Penn Attorney-Charles E. Baxley et al. [21] Appl. No.: 252,304

Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT 1 Continuation-impart of 1 1 111 This disclosure relates to a unit for translating and 1969 abandmed' printing data supplied as combinations of binary signals delivered respectively on different lines of a group of [52] US. Cl 101 /93 C conductors. The signals are split up on each line into [51] [131. C1. B41] 1/60 trains of pulses whose durations double from one line [58] Fleld of Search 101/93 C, 93 R, 110, to another in geometric progression Printing means 101/92 235/619 are provided with a plurality of printing characters. Collector means (having the group of conductors cou- [5 6] References C'ted pled thereto) combine the pulses into a joined configu- UNITED STATES PATENTS ration. Clutching means are connected to an output 2,720,832 10/1955 Luning 101/93 C line of a collector means for clutching the printing 2,796,830 6/1957 Hilton 101/93 C means to a rotatable drive shaft so as to position the 2,362,389 12/1953 o te a 74/479 printing characters in juxtaposed relation with an arti- 2,864,307 12/1958 HlllOn 61 81.... 101/93 c C16 to be prim 2,867,167 l/1959 Roth 101/93 C 3,025,510 3/1962 Lovejoy 74/479 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 245 3083 9a 200a 20,5 2052240 to [4 [,5

miminauuzswrs 3.741 112 sum 1 or e PATENTEU JUN 2 6 I973 SHEET 2 OF 6 NW N\N A 0 PAIENIEDaunzs ms 3.741. 112

sum 3 or e mmnumzsms 3.741.112- j sumuor 6 SHEET S (If 6 PAlENTEllJuuzs ma SHEET 6 [IF 6 UNIT FOR TRANSLATING AND PRINTING OF DATA SUPPLIED IN A FORM OF COMBINATIONS OF BINARY SIGNALS CROSS REFERENCE This application is a continuation in part of copending application Ser. No. 849,044 filed Aug. 11, 1969 now abandoned.

It is known that most traditional office calculating machines have printing units to which data are supplied in the form of combinations of binary signals. These printing units are fed via translation units which deliver a current a variable parameter of which makes it possible to select appropriate characters of a printing member comprising, in addition to the decimal series, certain traditional signs of operations, punctuation, etc. In some types of calculating machines, the translating and printing units are grouped together in the form of a unit which is independent of the machine proper and it is highly desirable for this mixed unitto take up as little space as possible.

A large number of physical measuring apparati used in laboratories provide information in the form of binary signals and the mixed units mentioned above can be used for recording of this information in the form of a succession of values printed on paper tapes. However, when these mixed units must be contained in standardized racks, it is advisable to give them dimensions which are as small as possible so that they will take up only a minimum number of compartments. Nevertheless it is difficult to reduce the'size of the electromechanical assembly formed of:

A battery of character drums mounted on a common shaft.

Mechanical trains (most of the time formed of gears on rocker arms) to drive the drums in rotation.

Data conversion, key-train switching, stopping and zeroizing systems, etc. which must be housed respectively in a very narrow section behind each drum. Because of this difficulty the electromechanical units at present available have excessively bulky structures which result, in the final analysis, in a considerable entangling of the parts and a considerable size.

It has been suggested already to reduce the complex nature and size of these mixed units by replacing the mechanical or electromechanical devices to a greater and greater extent by electronic components; units of this type are then formed of a battery of continuously rotating character drums, the characters of each drum being printed in flight" (that is to say, upon the passage of the character in front of the paper). However, due to energy which must be supplied to printing hammers controlled by the electronic circuits, it is necessary to provide components, in particular capacitors, in a rather substantial number taking up a rather substantial amount of space. One is restricted, therefore, by a limit below which it is not possible to go without employing special components such as integrated circuits; however, the latter, which must operate under feed voltages which are very narrow, are not at all reconcilable with the questionable, different values of voltages under which the measurement apparati (actually available on the market) supply their data in binary code.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the size and complexity of the mechanical and electromechanical members of the traditional printing units so as to obtain, for the mixed translation and printing units, overall sizes which are much less than those of the mixed units with extensive electronic control.

According to one known decoding technique, the data supplied in the form of combinations of binary signals delivered respectively on different lines of a group of conductors are translated into a pulse the duration of which is representative of the information. The duration of this pulse is then utilized to position the desired character of the printing member. However, up to now, pulses of variable duration were used to feed a motor the pivoting of which (which was larger or smaller depending on the duration of the pulses) positioned the printing member accordingly. Such systems could not be used to attain the object of the present invention because it was necessary to provide one motor for each character drum (in the same manner as one drive train per character drum was previously required), which would have ledto truly monstrous structures.

In accordance with this invention, the printing member (for instance a character drum) is clutched (for instance by soft friction) to a drive member (for instance a shaft) which is driven continuously, and means are provided to limit the duration of this clutching to the duration of the pulse translating the information. In this way it is no longer necessary to provide drive means for each drum, it being sufficient rather to provide a locking member which is capable of retaining it after an appropriatestroke. Therefore, a pawl controlled by electromechanical means (for instance very small electromagnets) is sufficient to cause the drum locked in the desired position to slide on the driving shaft. These very small elements may be arranged side by side behind the battery of character drums, and it is easy to accommodate behind them the system enabling the binary signals to be translated into pulses of variable duration.

These basic groups, which are very small, may be accommodated above a paper magazine, the assembly being in turn disposed in front of the driving motor which is generally of rather substantial size but which can be accommodated within the profile of the assembly. In this way the assembly may be housed in a very small parallelepiped space which in any case is much smaller than the size of the translating and printing units known heretofore.

DRAWINGS The invention will be understood better from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment has been shown solely by way of example.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a rack of considerable depth equipped with traditional reading and recording units.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a rack of the same type, but of lesser depth.

FIG. 3 is a basic diagram of a mixed translating and printing unit according to the invention in which the essential mechanical structures are included.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the mechanical printing members of FIG. 3 in two particular operating positions.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section through the battery of character drums of the unit of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing how the mixed translating and printing unit of FIG. 3 is arranged within a parallelepiped chassis.

FIG. 8 is an overall diagrammatic perspective view of the complete mixed translating and printing unit of FIG. 3, that is to say, equipped with its power supply unit, these elements being so arranged as to enable the entire assembly to be placed in the rack of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8, showing the mixed unit and its power supply unit disposed so as to permit introduction of the assembly into a rack of the type shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There should first of all be recalled in support of FIGS. 1 and 2 the conditions under which the translating and printing units used with measuring units are accommodated in standard racks. Racks 101 and 111 (FIGS. 1 and 2) consist, according to standards which are at present general, of vertical uprights 102 joined by front and end horizontal cross bars 103 and 104 respectively which subdivide each column into a series of superposed parallelepiped spaces. The dimensions of these spaces are standardized:

On the one hand in height by the spacing between the cross bar attachments (in general holes 105) which are distributed uniformly along the uprights 102 (this spacing being universally 44 millimeters).

On the other hand in width by the frontal distance between two uprights, which is 19 inches (about 480 millimeters).

And finally in depth.

It is clear that these spaces may serve to accommodate units 106 which can be introduced like drawers between the cross bars and then fixed to the latter by front plates. As a result of this, a certain tolerance can be permitted with respect to depth, and in any event the ends of the drawers have to be used for passage of connections 107; in practice, the depths of the units vary by around two semi-standard dimensions, one of the order of 350 millimeters and the other in the order of 250 millimeters.

Naturally, the outline, that is to say, the external dimensions of these units, must be slightly smaller than the above dimensions in order to take into account the widths of the cross bars 103, 104 and of the uprights 102 which are generally made of simple perforated angle pieces. As a matter of fact, the standard height unit of 44 millimeters is small and the reading, monitoring or recording units accommodated in these racks generally occupy at least two superposed compartments, that is to say, the space taken up by them in height is at least slightly less than 88 millimeters, or 2U" if the standard unit of 44 millimeters of height is designated by U.

The double degree of adjustment of the dimensions of the units (option as to depth and choice of a height equal to 2U, 3U, 4U, etc.) offers manufacturers options in presenting measuring instruments (voltmeter, ammeter, frequency meter, etc.) capable of being accommodated in these racks; in general, these instruments do not fill the entire widths of the compartments but often occupy half or three-quarters thereof. The users demand in practice that the instruments be as compact as possible in order to increase the number of monitoring units on a rack of given frontal area. On the other hand, it is essential that the elements and windows 108 intended for direct reading be of a reasonable minimum size. Consequently, most of the compartments are incompletely filled, and the rack with its equipment assumes the aspect of a cupboard comprising irregularly distributed empty cells which have to be blanked off by sheets of metal 109 of varying outlines.

The final result, which is contrary to the basic objective, is appreciable waste of available space and observation areas. This drawback is particularly marked when measuring units 106 have to be coupled to recording units 110 which print on a paper tape p the data posted on the windows of the direct reading units. The manufacturers of such printing units seek to make them smaller for the same reasons. However, it is very difficult to go below a certain limit dictated by the size of the main constituent elements.

Consequently, a measuring assembly with both direct and recorded reading is distributed, for example, and in the best case (FIG. 2):

In a compartment having a height of 2U, the width of which is incompletely filled, for the direct reading part.

In another compartment of a height of at least 3U (actually 4U in order to preserve the alignment of the cross bars 103 of the adjacent columns) and filled to a greater or lesser extent in height as a function of miniaturization of the recording apparatus.

Such an assembly therefore takes up a width of one rack, over a height of five or six compartments, of 44 millimeters each, and the closing of. said incompletely filled compartments must be accomplished by various sheets of metal 109.

There will now be described an extremely small mixed translating and printing unit which, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, can be accommodated in a quarter compartment of a rack illustrated in FIG. 1 and which, in the embodiment thereof shown in FIG. 9, can be accommodated in a half compartment of a rack illustrated in FIG. 2. In order to facilitate the description of this mixed unit, the diagrammatic structure of the translating unit and of the printing unit will first be explained, and then the operation of these two units will be explained. Thereupon it will be indicated how these units may actually be arranged within a chassis.

The translating unit is illustrated on the lefthand side of FIG. 3. In the example shown, the transmission of the information coming from the measuring unit and to be printed on a paper tape p (FIGS. 7 and 9), by means of a character drum which will be described subsequently, is effected by a so called four-moment binary system, that is to say, the control circuit of each printing drum is fed by a group of four lines 200a, 200b, 200a, 200d. Each of these lines receives information in binary code and may exhibit either absence of current (low level) or presence of current (high level), so that by working between the current levels of these four lines one can obtain 15 specific kinds of combinations, that is to say, 15 different items of information, not counting zero. These items of information are translated by a known system which will now be described and the object of which is to translate the fifteen combinations in question by a series of 15 pulses distinguished by the fact that their durations vary in arithmetical progression. According to this system the signals received on each line 200a to 200d are split up, starting from the same time origin t (FIG. 3), in such a manner that these signals are subdivided into pulse trains the respective durations of which are equal to the intervals. However, since the lines are arranged conventionally in a predetermined order, the durations of the split-up pulses on each line increase geometrically in accordance with a ratio of 2 from one line to another. In the case of FIG. 3 if it is assumed that the four lines 200a to 200d are fed simultaneously with current (that is to say, receive a binary positive signal), one will try to obtain pulse trains in the form of square waves, the relative duration of these pulses being 1 for the line 200'a, 2 for the line 200'b, 4 for the line 200'c and 8 for the line 200'd. Naturally absence of current on any one of the lines will eliminate any pulse train on the line in question. Also the pulse trains coming from the four lines are regrouped and amplified in an amplifier 201. These pulses then supplement one another successively in decreasing order of their durations, the combining of which can be appreciated by considering the pulses in the inverse order of the lines, that is to say, starting with line 200d. If the latter is fed with current, a pulse duration equal to 8 is obtained (hatched square wave disappearing at If the line 2000 is likewise fed, the hatched square wave on the line 200c which fades away at t supplements the preceding square wave, so that only a single pulse having a duration equal to 8 4 12 is observed on the collector line 202. One can continue step by step in such a manner that a pulse of duration 1.3 may be observed if the four lines are fed. If only the lines 200d, 200b and 200a are fed, a pulse will be observed which, starting from the instant t will last until the instant t,, by joining of the hatched pulse on line 200d and the two pulses marked with an arrow on lines 200'b and 200'a. A detailed description of the device making it possible to obtain this combining of several pulses will not be given since it is a conventional device. It will merely be indicated that the four lines 200a to 200d are equipped with nonreturn devices 203a to 203d and that each'of the lines is terminated by an oscillating blade 204a to 204d capable of being brought to bear against conductive studs 205a to 205d mounted on insulating armatures 206a to 206d. Rocking fingers 207a to 207d make these alternate contacts under the control of toothed wheels 208a to 208d. Of course, wheel 208d has one tooth, wheel 2080 has two teeth, wheel 208b has four teeth, and wheel 208a has eight teeth. All these wheels are mounted on the same shaft, and it will be noted that the initial teeth of each of the wheels are slightly extended in the leading direction at 209a to 209d so as to produce pulses 210a to 210d, to which reference will be had hereinbelow. It will also be-noted that the eight teeth on wheel 208a, the four teeth on wheel 208b, the two teeth on wheel 2080 and the tooth on wheel 208d are arranged within a half circumference, which point will be reverted to later on. I

It is clear that when the four wheels 208a to 208d keyed to the same shaft are caused to rotate simultaneously in the direction of arrows fl, signals received at 200a to 200d are split up in the form of pulse trains illustrated on each of the lines 200'a to 200'd. It will be seen therefore, that with the above device it is possible for a pulse whose duration may be between 0 and 15 (that is to say, in fact, 16 specific kinds of durations) to be picked up by collector 202. This pulse results from joining the unit initial" pulses, that is to say that it occurs starting from the reference instant t which corresponds, subject to fractions of teeth 209a to 209d, to the instant when the teeth act on fingers 207a to 207d. It will be noted also that the longest joined initial pulse (of a duration of 15) is followed by an absence of current for at least an equal period of time due to the absence of any tooth on the half of the circumference of the wheels 208a to 208d. In order more precisely to determine frequency and distribution of the initial joined pulse upon each cycle of rotation of wheels 208a to.208d, two revolutions per second may be adopted as the speed of rotation of said wheels; moreover, this cycle of rotation will be subdivided (by convention based on the divisions of circumference which are easily obtainable on gear cutting machines) into 39 equal parts. Under these conditions, tooth elements 209a to 209d (which determine the simultaneous pulses 210a to 210d) correspond to 2/39 of a cycle. The remaining teeth on wheel 208d correspond to 8/39 of a cycle, while the remaining teeth on wheel 205a extend over 15/39 of a cycle. This means that on the four wheels 208a to 208d there remain 22/39 of a cycle during which no current flows to collector 202. In short, in the course of a complete cycle:

2/39 of a cycle are, as will be seen later, reserved for preparing for the exploitation of the initial joined pulse.

l5/39 of a cycle are used for the purpose of transmitting said initial joined pulse which is intended to position the printing member.

22/39 of a cycle are used for the operations of printing and resetting to zero.

The printing unit will now be described with reference to the lower right part of FIG. 3 and to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. This unit consists essentially of a battery of 12 drums 220a to 220l (FIG. 6) the edge of which carries 16 characters 221 comprising the signs 0 to 9 and other conventional symbols (such as and signs, punctuation marks, etc.). These drums are mounted idly on shaft 222 and are pushed as a battery by annular spring 223 against washer 224 which is held in position by clip 225. Between each pair of adjacent drums there are arranged friction disks 226 keyed to shaft 222 so that under the pressure of spring 223 (which is locked by another clip 227) all the drums of the battery are driven by soft friction upon the rotation of shaft 222. These drums may be locked nevertheless by means of peripheral notches 228 which can be seen both in FIG. 6 and in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Wheel 220a with characters 221 moreover can be noted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. For

clarity in explanation, the line of characters (as seen from below) has been shown below each wheel.

Friction driving disks 226 keyed at 229 to drive shaft 222 which is driven in the direction indicated by arrow f2 can also be noted. Character drum 220a which is thus driven can be stopped by pawl 230 rocking on shaft 231 and urged in the direction indicated by arrow f3 by spring 232 attached to lever arm 233. This pawl has ferromagnetic tip 234 which is capable of cooperating with core 235 of electromagnet 236 fed by collector line 202 and having outlet line 237 serving as return for lines 200a to 200d.

The electromagnet and its core are mounted on cradle 238 which also rocks on shaft 231 and is also urged in the direction indicated by arrow f3 by spring 239 attached to arm 240 provided at its end with transverse finger 241. This transverse finger is capable of cooperating with cam 242 which is driven in the direction indicated by arrow f5 at a speed of rotation identical to that of wheels 208a to 208d. In the position illustrated in FIG. 3, when finger 241 is engaged in one of two depressions 243 and 243 provided on both sides of cam 242, pawl 230 is engaged in notch 228 and core 235 is applied against ferromagnetic armature 234.

The operation of the printing unit is as follows. In the position shown in FIG. 3, the printing unit is at the instant which precedes by 2/39 of a cycle, the instant t at which the initial joined pulse is fed into collector 202. In this position, character wheel 220a presents character for printing (see in this connection the characters illustrated below the wheel).

During these 2/39 of a cycle on the one hand, tooth elements 209a to 209d close contacts 204a, 205a to 204d, 205d. During these 2/39 of a cycle pulses 210a to 210d pass into conductors 200a to 200d to the extent that conductors 200a to 200d are receiving current. The winding of the electromagnet is calculated in such a manner that it is sufficient for only one of these four pulses to pass into one of the conductors 200a to 200d in order for armature 234 to be held against core 235. Consequently, if only one of the conductors 200a to 200d is fed, there will be a pulse of a duration of between 1 and 15 in collector 202. In the case in which no signal appears on the lines 200a to 200d, there is no current in collector 202.

On the other hand, cam 242 pivots 2/39 of a revolution and causes finger 241 to emerge from upper de pression 243'. Consequently, if a current flows in collector 202, pawl 230 accompanies withdrawal of cradle 238 in the direction indicated by the arrow f4 (see FIG. 4). If no current flows in collector 202, pawl 230 remains in place, while cradle 238 withdraws (position illustrated in FIG. 5 with respect to these two parts). In the first of these two cases, wheel 220a starts to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow f6 at a speed which (for reasons which will be explained further on) is at least more than substantially twice the speed of cam 242. This means that shaft 222 is driven by a train of gears which causes it to rotate considerably more quickly than cam 242.

As long as the initial joined pulse is circulating in collector 202, armature 234 remains held against core 235 (FIG. 4). On the other hand, as soon as the initial joined pulse ceases, the electromagnet ceases to be fed and pawl 230 is urged by spring 232 in the direction indicated by arrow f3 (FIG. 5). It therefore engages in notch 228 whose position is a function of the amplitude of pivoting of wheel 220a, that is to say, of the duration of the pulse circulating in collector 202.

For example, in the case of FIG. 5, character wheel 220a has carried out 9/16 of a revolution and the lower character ready for printing is number 9. As soon as pawl 230 has dropped into notch 228, character wheel 220a is locked, while shaft 222 continues to rotate, in the same manner as cam 242, until the time when finger 241 starts to penetrate into depression 243. 20/39 ofa cycle have then elapsed from the moment when the initial joined pulse was started. These 20/39 of a cycle have been broken down into:

l5/39 for the transmitting and exploitation of the initial joined pulse, and

5/39 alloted to printing by conventional means and to the refeeding of electromagnet 236 by an auxiliary circuit shown in FIG. 3.

As a matter of fact, a feed terminal S makes it possible to feed the electromagnet up to return line 237 via contact 244, terminal 245, flexible conductor 246 bearing against a circular ramp provided on the drum alongside the characters, and by contact 247 which is opened at the same time as contact 244 when stud 248 on the ramp of the drum lifts flexible blade 246. Therefore, in the course of the 5/39 of a cycle mentioned above, source S is fed, contact 244 is closed, and stud 248 is well below shaft 222 (FIG. 5).

At the moment when the finger 241 starts to penetrate into depression 243:

tape p of printed paper is advanced by one line to present a blank surface for printing,

cradle 238 starts to rock forward,

and the electromagnet is fed by circuit S. Finger 241 remains in depression 243 for 2/39 of a cycle and then rises again on cam 242. Cradle 238 accompanied by pawl 230, then withdraw in such a manner that character wheel 220a starts turning again at the speed of shaft 222 until the moment when stud 248 opens circuit S which feeds the electromagnet. At this moment pawl 230 drops again (FIG. 3), while the character wheel presents character 0" at its lower part and while shaft 222 and cam 242 continue to rotate until finger 241 is again engaged in depression 243' (FIG. 3).

Between the time when finger 241 leaves depression 243 and said finger penetrates into depression 243, 15/39 of a cycle have elapsed and have been used in order to return the character wheel to its initial position, the latter having rotated for a longer or shorter time depending on the character on which it had previously been stopped for printing purposes.

Under these conditions, it will be realized that shaft 222 must carry out 15/16 ofa revolution during a complete cycle (there is, in fact, no use in moving the character wheel if it is to be returned to the same character);

a first time during the 15/39 of a cycle reserved for the exploitation of the initial joined pulse,

and a second time during the 15/39 of a cycle reserved for resetting to zero. This means that shaft 222 must rotate in a ratio of 39/ 1 6 with respect to the speed of rotation wheels 208a and 208d and of cam 242. This makes it possible to limit the speed of rotation and accordingly the wear on wheels 208a to 208d, while only the character wheels rotate at a higher speed.

Referring to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the battery of character wheels may be accommodated at the upper front part of a chassis formed of two sides 300 and 301. Cam 242 mounted on shaft 222 may be driven by individual toothed ring 302, while shaft 222 itself is driven by another pinion situated behind toothed ring 302, and therefore not shown in the drawing.

Thin electromagnets 235 and pawls 230 can be accommodated easily behind each of the character wheels, while return spring 239 of the cradle and return springs 232 of the pawls can be hooked into transverse bar 303 engaged in notches in sides 300 and 301.

Finally, wheels 208a to 208d may be arranged behind the electromagnets, and it is sufficient, for example, to have all conductors 2000 relating to the 12 character drums pass below wheel 208a whose width is increased accordingly. This is a simple arrangement of connections in parallel which makes it possible to obtain a more compact assembly than if the trains of four wheels were repeated in series behind each drum. Finally, the batteries of drums and electromagnets (FIGS.

7 and 8) can be arranged above the paper-feed magazine, while motor 304 can be accommodated immediately behind wheels 208a to 208d.

A speed-reduction transmission device (not shown) may be accommodated below the battery of wheels 208a to 208d in order to control a'train of gears which is housed behind side 301 and drives shaft 245 of wheels 208a to 208d, toothed ring 302 and (at a speed in the ratio of 39/16) shaft 222. In this way there is obtained (FIG. 8) a very narrow translating and printing assembly which may be provided at its rear part, with a conventional power supply unit comprising transformer 305, which assembly may be recessed in a quarter rack as shown in FIG. 1. The power supply unit 305 may even be arranged (FIG. 9) on the side of motor 304 andpaper storage compartment 306 may then be provided alongside the translating and printing mechanisms. The usual electronics for this type of translating and printing unit may advantageously be grouped on a board (see FIG. 8) which, because of the very small dimensions of the simple components which are to be provided, is fixed at 307 against the external face of side 300.

The invention is, of course, not limited to the embodiment which has been described and illustrated. It is clear that although character drums are customarily employed, linear printing members could be used, provided that these members could be clutched to a constantly actuated driving member. Likewise, pawl 230 served to lock character wheel 220a for resetting to zero, but this locking could be effected via a separate stop member, provided that this member could be retracted at the start of the initial joined pulse. Likewise, the zero resetting mechanism described and illustrated in which stud 248 opens electric circuit S could be replaced by a simplified arrangement. For example, it may be imagined;

that notch 228 against which pawl 230 strikes when the zero is in printing position (FIG. 3) comprises by way of exception an extension 228', illustrated in broken line, and I that the part of cam 242 on which finger 241 slides during the zero-resetting phase is of slightly smaller radius (242' in FIG. 3) than the opposing part of the cam, so that pawl 230 is not so far away from the character wheel in the course of the zeroresetting phase as in the course of the phase of using of the initial pulse. It is thus sufficiently simple to maintain the feeding of electromagnet 236 for protruding notch 228 to strike against pawl 230 during the zero-resetting rotation. Of course, notch 228 does not interfere during the phase of using the initial joined pulse in which the cradle and therefore the pawl would be further withdrawn by the action of the ramp diametrically opposite to cam 242-.

I claim:

1. In a unit for translating and printing data supplied as combinations, of binary signals respectively delivered on different lines of a group of conductors, with said signals being split up on each of the lines into trains of pulses which start simultaneously and have pulse durations equal to intervals therebetween, wherein said pulse durations double from each of the lines to the next in a geometric progression; an improvement comprising printing means having a plurality of printing characters, a signal source for generating said. binary I signals and connected to said group of conductors, collector means having said group of conductors coupled thereto for combining said pulses into a joined pulse and having an output lead for conducting said joined pulse, a rotatable drive shaft, clutching means connected to said collector means output lead for clutching said printing means to said rotatable drive shaft to move said printing means to position said characters successively in juxtaposition with an article to be printed, means for starting the printing means from a reference position and for moving said printing means a number of characters'proportional with the duration of the joined pulse on the collector output lead, and means for releasing said printing means from said rotatable drive shaft at termination of said joined pulse to permit printing by one of said printing characters.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said printing means comprises a drum mounted on said shaft and having light friction therewith, and wherein said clutching means comprises locking means for preventing the drum from rotating with the shaft at the termination of the joined pulse.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises a spring and a locking member urged by said spring towards said printing drum, and an electromagnet connected to said collector means output lead for electrical energization of said collector means output lead, said electromagnet disposed for engagement with said locking member to hold said locking member away from said drum against the force of said spring until termination of said joined pulse, said electromagnet arranged to free said locking member for movement toward said drum to prevent rotation thereof after said termination.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of said clutching means, a plurality of said groups of conductors, and a plurality of said printing mean mounted on said rotatable drive shaft and each of said printing means individually controlled by one of said groups of conductors.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4, .wherein each said printing means comprises a printing drum frictionally mounted on said shaft, and further comprises a chassis having longitudinal side walls, a compartment for feeding paper for printing purposes disposed transversely between the two sides of said chassis, and a motor for driving the drive shaft and disposed between the side. walls, said printing drums being disposed within said chassis walls between said motor and said compartment.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, in which said source of binary signals is arranged between the two sides and between the drums and the driving motor.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said source of binary signals comprises a battery of contacts and a battery of cams for actuating said contacts, said cams being equal in number to the lines of one of said groups of conductors, and said contacts being respectively connected to said conductors, wherein the contacts for the signals to be split are actuated simultaneously in parallel by one of said cams.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 2, further comprising means for releasing said locking means to enable the drum to be driven to said reference position, abutment means for stopping said drum at its reference position, and retracting means for retracting saidabutment means at the beginning of a subsequent cycle.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8, wherein said abutment means is included in said locking means.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means for releasing said locking means after printing and at the beginning of the joined pulse comprises a ferro-magnetic armature on said locking means, a cradle mounted within said device for movement toward said locking means, an electromagnet mounted on said cradle, and wherein said electromagnet is energized as it moves toward said locking means so as to attract and take with it said locking means by magnetic connection to said ferro-magnetic armature when said cradle withdraws.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10, further comprising means to operate said cradle and electromagnet at the beginning of the cycle so as to release said locking means once said drum has been stopped in its reference position.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11, further comprising means for effecting the operations of attracting said locking means and withdrawing said cradle at the same time as the joined pulses are started and then for effecting said operations again after at least one revolution of said drive shaft taking longer than the duration of the longest joined pulse and at the beginning of a phase extending at least over one revolution of the drive shaft and while the retractable abutment means is set in action.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a cam rotatable with said drive shaft at a speed at least substantially half that of said drive shaft, wherein said cradle'is caused to move by means of said cam. 

1. In a unit for translating and printing data supplied as combinations of binary signals respectively delivered on different lines of a group of conductors, with said signals being split up on each of the lines into trains of pulses which start simultaneously and have pulse durations equal to intervals therebetween, wherein said pulse durations double from each of the lines to the next in a geometric progression; an improvement comprising printing means having a plurality of printing characters, a signal source for generating said binary signals and connected to said group of conductors, collector means having said group of conductors coupled thereto for combining said pulses into a joined pulse and having an output lead for conducting said joined pulse, a rotatable drive shaft, clutching means connected to said collector means output lead for clutching said printing means to said rotatable drive shaft to move said printing means to position said characters successively in juxtaposition with an article to be printed, means for starting the printing means from a reference position and for moving said printing means a number of characters proportional with the duration of the joined pulse on the collector output lead, and means for releasing said printing means from said rotatable drive shaft at termination of said joined pulse to permit printing by one of said printing characters.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said printing means comprises a drum mounted on said shaft and having light friction therewith, and wherein said clutching means comprises locking means for preventing the drum from rotating with the shaft at the termination of the joined pulse.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises a spring and a locking member urged by said spring towards said printing drum, and an electromagnet connected to said collector means output lead for electrical energization of said collector means output lead, said electromagnet disposed for engagement with said locking member to hold said locking member away from said drum against the force of said spring until termination of said joined pulse, said electromagnet arranged to free said locking member for movement toward said drum to prevent rotation thereof after said termination.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of said clutching means, a plurality of said groups of conductors, and a plurality of said printing mean mounted on said rotatable drive shaft and each of said printing means individually controlled by one of said groups of conductors.
 5. The invention as set forth in claim 4, wherein each said printing means comprises a printing drum frictionally mounted on said shaft, and further comprises a chassis having longitudinal side walls, a compartment for feeding paper for printing purposEs disposed transversely between the two sides of said chassis, and a motor for driving the drive shaft and disposed between the side walls, said printing drums being disposed within said chassis walls between said motor and said compartment.
 6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, in which said source of binary signals is arranged between the two sides and between the drums and the driving motor.
 7. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein said source of binary signals comprises a battery of contacts and a battery of cams for actuating said contacts, said cams being equal in number to the lines of one of said groups of conductors, and said contacts being respectively connected to said conductors, wherein the contacts for the signals to be split are actuated simultaneously in parallel by one of said cams.
 8. The invention as set forth in claim 2, further comprising means for releasing said locking means to enable the drum to be driven to said reference position, abutment means for stopping said drum at its reference position, and retracting means for retracting said abutment means at the beginning of a subsequent cycle.
 9. The invention as set forth in claim 8, wherein said abutment means is included in said locking means.
 10. The invention as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means for releasing said locking means after printing and at the beginning of the joined pulse comprises a ferro-magnetic armature on said locking means, a cradle mounted within said device for movement toward said locking means, an electromagnet mounted on said cradle, and wherein said electromagnet is energized as it moves toward said locking means so as to attract and take with it said locking means by magnetic connection to said ferro-magnetic armature when said cradle withdraws.
 11. The invention as set forth in claim 10, further comprising means to operate said cradle and electromagnet at the beginning of the cycle so as to release said locking means once said drum has been stopped in its reference position.
 12. The invention as set forth in claim 11, further comprising means for effecting the operations of attracting said locking means and withdrawing said cradle at the same time as the joined pulses are started and then for effecting said operations again after at least one revolution of said drive shaft taking longer than the duration of the longest joined pulse and at the beginning of a phase extending at least over one revolution of the drive shaft and while the retractable abutment means is set in action.
 13. The invention as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a cam rotatable with said drive shaft at a speed at least substantially half that of said drive shaft, wherein said cradle is caused to move by means of said cam. 